Bye, bye Reading Bugs

This is the reading bug's last post. The reading bug will be flying away shortly to a new library. Thank you all for such wonderful story times over the past three years.

Look for a new season of story times this September

The Lee County Library's "Baby" (ages birth to 2) and Preschool (ages 3 to 5) story times are on vacation and will resume after Labor Day.

Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 10:00 a.m.: ages birth to 2

Thursday, Sept. 9 at 11:00 a.m.: ages 3 to 5

Thanks for a great summer, everyone!

We made a splash with preschool story time this summer!

Summer Story Time at the Lee County Library

Summer Story Time begins the week of June 14

There will be two story times for young children this summer. Our theme is "Make a Splash @ Your Library!"

• Birth to age 2: Meets Mondays at 10 a.m., beginning June 14 and ending July 19. NOTE: The library will be closed on Monday, July 5. These programs are 20 to 30 minutes long and may include stories, fingerplays, action rhymes, movement, and music.
• Ages 3 to 5: Meets Thursdays at 11 a.m., beginning June 17 and ending July 29. NOTE: No story time on Thursday, July 1. These programs are 30 to 45 minutes long and may include stories, flannelboard stories, puppet shows, fingerplays, action rhymes, movement, music, crafts, and movies.

Our themes this summer will be as follows:

week of June 14: Bath Time

week of June 24: In the Water

Week of July 8: Ocean [Note: no story time on Thursday, July 1 or Monday, July 5]

Week of July 15: Boats

Week of July 22: Swimming

July 29 (for ages 3 to 5 only): Beach

Registration is not necessary. All programs meet in the auditorium EXCEPT the program scheduled for Thursday, July 29, which will meet at the fountain in Depot Park (weather permitting.)

Happy Holidays from Story Time at Lee County Library!

We hope you will have a restful, joyful, and peaceful holiday this year and always. Thank you for being a part of our weekly story times--YOU are why we are here and why we love our jobs.

Story time will be on vacation from Friday, December 18 until Wednesday, January 6, when we will resume our normal story time schedule: Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. and Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. Meanwhile, here is a list of holiday books that you can share with your "reading bugs," as well as a fingerplay and a song to sing.

Books
That's Good, That's Bad on Santa's Journey by M. Cuyler
A Pinata in a Pine Tree by P. Mora
Mrs. Wishy Washy's Christmas by Joy Cowley
Eight Days of Hanukkah by H. Ziefert
The Christmas Tree by A. Ada (bilingual)
Clifford's Christmas by N. Bridwell (we have an audio version, too)
Merry Christmas, Merry Crow by J. Goodell
Merry Christmas, Maisy by L. Cousins
Santa's Stuck by R. Greene
Merry Christmas, Space Case by J. Marshall

Santa's Surprise by K. Faulkner (I recently saw this GREAT pop-up book in a bargain bin for $5 at a bookstore, check it out. It's one of our favorites!)

Fingerplay

Here is the chimney (Make a fist and enclose your thumb)
Here is the top (Place your other palm on top of your fist)
Open the lid (Lift your palm off your fist)
And out Santa pops! (Pop up your thumb)

Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!

Song

Hat, Whiskers, Belt, and Boots (to the tune of Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes)

Hat, whiskers, belt, and boots
(belt and boots)
Hat, whiskers, belt, and boots
(belt and boots)
Twinkling eyes and a little cherry nose,
Hat, whiskers, belt, and boots
(belt and boots)

Happy Halloween and November Schedule

Halloween brought many costumed participants to story time last week.

Our November schedule will be as follows:

November 4 & 5: Ducks, Dogs, and maybe some dinosaurs too-- Brought to you by the letter D
November 12: Elephants-- Brought to you by the letter E
November 18 & 19--Thanksgiving Story Time--Have a Feast

PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO STORY TIME ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11. THE LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED IN HONOR OF VETERANS' DAY.

Also, there will be no story time on Wednesday, November 25 or Thursday, November 26.
The Lee County Library will be closed from Thursday, November 26 until Monday, November 30.

Read for the Record on October 8

Help us celebrate the 40th anniversary of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" on Thursday, October 8 at 11:00 in the library auditorium.

We will read the book in English and in Spanish, learn about caterpillars and butterflies, have a colorful craft, and of course--eat cake!

There is no charge for this event, but space is limited. Help us "pump up the numbers" so Lee County will be in the count of the millions of people around the world who will be reading "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" on October 8.

For more information, call the Lee County Library at (919) 718-4665.